‘Special committee will ensure transparency of redelineation exercise’

The suggestion for the setting up of a third party body to handle the process of redelineation of electoral boundaries in the country will allow for more transparency.

Independent policy, strategic and management expert Dr Faridzwan Abdul Ghafar said the suggestion by the Electoral Reform Committee (ERC) would allow improvements to the electoral process and restore public confidence in the Election Commission (EC).

“The previous general election was marred with various issues, so this move will pave the way for a more transparent and fair election.”

However, Faridzwan said the committee must be free from political appointees.

“The people that should be in the committee are those who have high integrity, legal and social experts and expertise in electoral laws.”

Yesterday, ERC chairman Tan Sri Abdul Rashid Abdul Rahman, a former EC chairman, said the committee would propose to the government the formation of a special commission for redelineation purposes, saying that this was to avoid accusations of bias and silence criticism that the redelineation process was politically motivated.

He had said the committee members should be determined by Parliamentary Select Committee, and to be formed every eight years.

At present, the redelineation exercise is under the purview of the EC.

Constitutional lawyer Lim Wei Jiet took to Twitter in support of the proposal.

He said the special commission must be independent, have high integrity and the resources to execute its role well.

“Until you get all these, it’s just another meaningless body,” said Lim, who is also Bar Council Constitutional Law Committee deputy chairman and National Human Rights Society secretarygeneral.

EC deputy chairman Dr Azmi Sharom said the commission would weigh in on the suggestion once it was invited do to so.

“The ERC has yet to complete its final report. Of course, the EC will give its point of view on the suggestion once we are invited do to so,” he said.

The ERC is expected to submit its report and recommendations by September next year.

Asked if the recently-passed lowering of the voting age to 18 would necessitate another redelineation exercise, Azmi said the normal process was for a redelineation exercise to be conducted once every eight years.

“However, a fresh redelineation process can take place or can be triggered if there is a change to the number of seats passed by Parliament or state legislative assemblies.”

The present electoral boundaries for the peninsula were approved in Parliament just before the 14th General Election last year, so the eight-year period would end only in 2026, while Sarawak and Sabah would end in 2023 and 2025, respectively.

Rashid said the country might be able to undertake another redelineation exercise.

“We had undergone the exercise just before the last general election. If we continue with the present constituencies, then we have to wait another seven years.

“It depends on the government, when they receive our report and recommendations.”